Iran conflict: US strategy split and blockade risks – Rabobank

Rabobank’s Global Daily outlines diverging US positions on Iran, with Vice-President Vance exploring direct talks while President Donald Trump criticises the existing MoU and demands “total victory.”

Blockade dilemmas and security threats

"US Vice-President Vance is reportedly considering direct talks with Iran’s key hard-liner Mohsen Rezai in another push to end the war."

"In the middle, the new White House Chief of Staff Miller reportedly prefers the economic blockade to continue indefinitely."

"Tehran’s rhetoric remains that the only terms on offer are a de facto US strategic defeat:"

"Notably, however, Saudi oil production has now rebounded close to prewar levels for now showing that Iran’s leverage decreases over time, at least in crude if not refined products… unless it escalates further."

"On that front, US Treasury Secretary Bessent has had to move his family to a military base after threats linked to Iran, as Miller, Secretary of State Rubio, and Attorney General Blanche are also now forced to reside in different ones(!)"

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor. Know more.)